Influencer ethics on Instagram

[MadameGrizzly]

Continuing the discussion on whether influencing on Instagram is an ethical business model, particularly around the disclosure of advertising and the over exposure of children.

AIBU to think it isn't a sustainable career unless the influencer is scrupulously ethical?

Going back to gifted stuff, the heavily featured (expensive, covertable, be-in-our-gang) ‘Mama brands’ are being marketed at people who, in the most part, are on limited money b/c of being on maternity pay or SATMs or paying hefty childcare fees or all the other reasons Mums are ‘pregnant then screwed’. How is this ethical?
Take Scamp & Dude, I understand the great cause behind it but the latest stuff is starting to appearing on everyone’s feeds and the kids jumper/leggings combo cost nearly £70, a babygro is £30. This is not normal person prices.

@EeebyMum I tend to flick past all the 'mama' clothing and slogan stuff so I have no idea what the message behind it is? Is it just more of the 'women supporting women' stuff or is it charity based?

Selfish Mother is charitable. I bought one on this basis but then was too embarrassed to wear it

I don't understand who buys the kids clothes unless they sell them on, they are so expensive! Scamp and Dude is worn by them all, all the time.

@PavlovaPrincess many of the featured ones are just #womensupportingwomen stuff, but Selfish Mother give £10 (or there about) per jumper to loads of different charities. I thought S&D did too, but I can’t actually find out if they do or not.

I'm an employment lawyer so I'm interested in the pregnant then screwed campaign

The first thing I would like to say is that there are a huge number of people who are already carrying out very substantive pro bono work to assist in this area. They do not do it for publicity or for any type of recognition and reward. That does not seem to be the case with this campaign. That does not mean that it is unwelcome or unhelpful - but ethically, the parameters of that should be clear.

This event in Manchester today - presumably it was ticketed and people paid to attend. For what? To hear anecdotes? Again, that is not necessarily unhelpful but what training or qualifications in mental health, for example, do the speakers on that subject have? If none, what advice that is worth paying and cannot be accessed elsewhere for free for is being given? If none, then attendees are really paying for face time with instagrammers. That's fine - but I hope that was an informed choice.

Separately, from the pictures I have seen online, it looked increadibly lacking in any sort of diversity. Is there any partnership or attempts to make contact with citizens advice bureaus or local lawyers doing pro bono work or trade unions/sure start centres etc etc to see if they have any members or clients or contacts who could really use a free or accessibly priced ticket? If not - I'm sorry to say it looks as though these types of parents aren't really welcome as they don't have the disposable funds to buy the tea or the necklaces that the instagrammers are flogging which is the underlying reason for holding them.

Eeby - bottom of this article explains what Scamp &Dude do.

www.vogue.co.uk/article/kids-clothes-with-a-conscience-scamp-and-dude

I'm sure there us a risk that my last post will be seen as unkind if bullying by some. However, if that is the case, I think those involved need to really consider whether they would carry on campaigning if their campaigns were never mentioned on Instagram again and/or alongside their other roles as influencers. If not, there is a connection

Perhaps BadMotherPukka will be able to answer that Gobbolino. She said she was coming back on the thread.

Reboot typical! I guess there is too much money to be made.

Can one do anything about the random ads from large companies that pop up in your feed?

Gobbolino it would be interesting to know what proportion of attendees were aspiring instamums. I got the impression the event was advice on how to make Instagram a career, no?

Thanks you Gametile - I don’t know why that info isn’t readily available on the website (unless I’m just being blind) as it’s an awesome cause.

Gobbolinothewitchscat You’ve raised some really good points

I'd be interested to see how many people attended

The thing in Manchester today was one big love in for the insta crowd as far as I could see. The ‘mama’ Brands were there too and it was all the same old insta people talking again, but with NB included this time. Where’s the people talking about mums who want to go back to work but are fucked on universal credit and can’t have flexbile working because they do shitty, min wage, zero hour contract jobs?

Looks like some interesting people and some insta fluff to me.

Agreed that mental health is 'fashionable'. Saw an IGer say recently that mess on the stairs made her 'anxious'

www.pregnantthenscrewedlive.com/speakers

That was a useful link. Still can't see anyone qualified to talk about mental health and perhaps put it in some kind of context. flyingbird's
point re: anxiety is a good one.

Still very unclear regarding the diversity and what attempts are made (if any) to ensure accessibility. If not, you have professional and ex-professional white peoples falking to professional and ex-professional white people.

Also - what actually is the influencer role? To provide anecdotes? Are they paid to attend?

Again I refer to the MLM element, pay to come to our conference and ‘connect’ with the top of the tree so you can be like us too...hope and aspiration!
Or maybe they did invite some mums who really are in minimum wage and have found themselves single and unable to work and need legal/professional help!

Gobbolino I agree, I meant the interesting speakers were Motherpukka and the employment lawyer. I'm not sure what the 'mental health' instas would bring to the table - perhaps their experience of finding self employment better for their anxiety?

I've only heard of three of those speakers and unfollowed two of them a while back! I can tell the one in sunglasses in bed wouldn't be my cup of tea!!!

So may questions - I just hope it's not something along the lines of that awful Younique charity for sexually abused women. A serious and important issue hijacked to legitimise an MLM selling shit make up

There was a session on "Don't be a self-absorbed bore". I hope that was well attended.

I wonder if they each had to submit an abstract to be chosen to present, which is what I have to do in order to present at conferences?

A serious and important issue hijacked to legitimise an MLM selling shit make up.

Let's all just forget that I suggested influencers should try and do some good, because this is what would happen, isn't it? I didn't think that through.

Maybe instead, each season they could they could show us all the garments, shoes and bags, that they would otherwise sell, being donated to the charity of their choice with directions as to how to contact the charity. So designer children and women's wear could go to grateful new homes and the charity would receive much needed publicity.

I'm still frustrated though that a bunch of privileged women were treated to a lovely breakfast by Wardrobe Icons and Aurora, then given a monogrammed handbag to add to their vast collection of handbags. Some women don't own any handbags because they prioritise feeding their children.

This ^
There is a charity to get women into work who can’t afford clothes to wear to interviews....send some of the freebies?!

👏🏻 Madame Grizzly.

A new page - What Clemmie Donated.